Mining is Essential to Nevada’s Economy

Posted on June 02, 2014 by Minerals Make Life

In the latest edition of “Eye on Washington,” National Mining Association General Counsel Katie Sweeney discussed the importance of Nevada’s minerals mining industry to the state’s economy. For example, Nevada, the largest mineral producer in the United States, produced more than $11 billion worth of minerals and metals while supporting more than 25,000 jobs in 2011 alone.

Additionally, Sweeney highlighted critical minerals’ essential applications, from domestic manufacturing to innovation and national security, while reminding viewers that policy makers must act on permit reform to allow America to tap into its $6.2 trillion mineral reserve.

“With an outdated permitting process that requires seven to 10 years to get permits to actually mine, when you compare that with other countries who do it in two years then you see that [the U.S.] is not as competitive as [it] could be or should be,” Sweeney said. “It also means that we are not getting the investment dollars here in the United States, which means we are relying more on foreign sources of minerals for our domestic manufacturers.”

Today’s permitting policy is outdated, entangled in red tape and fraught with duplication. As Sweeney explains, a more timely and efficient permitting process would be a tremendous boost to not only the state of Nevada, but the entire country.